Most TVs sold today are direct-view CRT (cathode-ray tube). They offer the most lifelike picture quality and are the least expensive. They are often limited in size; up to about 36 inches, and have a large depth and weight.
Pros:
- True blacks and high quality colors
- Least expensive technology
- Great picture quality
- Can be viewed in any light at any angle
- Depth and heavy weight
- Low brightness levels
- Reflections on the screen
- No native resolution
- Convergence issues (Over time, tubes become misaligned, reducing sharpness and picture quality.)
- Susceptible to burn in
- Analog conversion of digital video signals introduces sampling noise into the picture
The two types of rear-projection televisions are CRT and Microdisplay. While they are great with color quality and cost, CRT rear-projection TVs are heavier and deeper, have limited brightness and narrow viewing angles. Digital Light Processing (DLP) TVs offer better blacks and color accuracy. Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) TVs have the same number of pixels as a DLP or LCD TV, but the space between each pixel is smaller, giving a seamless picture.
Pros of DLP:
- Great contrast ratio, picture quality, blacks, and colors
- No burn-in
- Wide viewing angles
- High brightness levels (viewable in a bright room)
- No motion blur
- Rainbows (quick flashes of colored light on the edge of sharp transitions from black to white)
- Requires bulb replacement approximately every 4000 hours
- Typically not wall-mountable
- Bright images
- Great contrast ratio, picture quality, and colors
- No burn-in
- Wider viewing angles
- It is hard to manufacture LCoS chips which causes low availability
- Blacks have lack of shadow depth
- Motion blur
- Bulb replacement may be required
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) are most commonly used as computer monitors, but are rapidly becoming popular as TVs. They offer thin screens and light weight, allowing wall mounting and take up less room than other TVs. These TVs offer long life, often 50,000 hours or more, use less power, and generate less heat.
Pros:
- Available in small sizes
- Thin and lightweight for wall or ceiling mounting
- Great picture quality and colors
- High brightness levels (viewable in a bright room)
- Less susceptible to burn-in
- Limited viewing angles
- Blacks have lack of shadow depth
- Motion blur (getting better with newer models)
Plasma TVs have slim, relatively light weight designs but they are still relatively expensive. However, Plasma display technology offers customers very large screens that can be setup almost anywhere. Plasma TVs generally have a shorter life span, and there is no option to repair a burnt out tube or backlight as with LCD or CRT displays. Plasma is a very fragile technology, and the units are quite easy to damage. Plasma TVs have a shorter life span in higher altitudes and give off more heat.
Pros:
- Great picture quality and colors
- Thin and lightweight for wall or ceiling mounting
- Viewable from all angles
- High brightness levels (viewable in a bright room)
- Susceptible to burn-in
- Brightness reduces over time
- Uses more power
- Only available in larger screen sizes
- Blacks have lack of shadow depth
- Prone to hum and shorter life span at higher altitudes (8,000ft.)
- Analog conversion of digital video signals introduces sampling noise into the picture